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Effects of erythrocyte aggregation on the flow dynamics of erythrocytes in microvessels were examined quantitatively by perfusing human erythrocytes suspended in isotonic medium containing various concentrations of dextran (70,400 avg mol wt, Dx-70) into a part of the microvascular bed isolated from rabbit mesentery. Thickness of the marginal cell-free layer was measured with an image analyzer, total flow resistance was determined on the basis of the perfusion pressure-volume flow relationship, and homogeneity of erythrocyte flow was evaluated by the power spectrum obtained by the fast Fourier transform of the light intensity change monitored on single microvessels. With increasing dextran concentration, suspension viscosity of erythrocytes at high shear rates increased linearly and thickness of the cell-free layer increased in a sigmoidal fashion. Flow resistance increased relatively little over the range of dextran concentrations in which the cell-free layer increased most rapidly. Furthermore, the flow pattern of erythrocytes in microvessels became inhomogeneous. In conclusion, the present study shows that Dx-70-induced erythrocyte aggregation results in increased flow resistance in the circulatory system, even through the widening of the cell-free layer tends to reduce the resistance and also results in inhomogeneous flow of erythrocytes in microvessels.

Erythrocyte deformation in microvessels was essentially different from that in glass capillaries, and the effect of erythrocyte deformability on the flow dynamics of erythrocytes in microvessels was properly evaluated using an isolated microvascular bed.

Flow behavior of erythrocytes in microvessels and glass capillaries with an inner diameter of 10-50 µm was compared in relation to erythrocyte deformation and erythrocyte aggregation. This study was focused on the formation of a marginal cell-free layer, and the thickness was determined using an image processor. Human erythrocytes were perfused through a part of microvascular networks isolated from rabbit mesentery and through glass capillaries. Erythrocyte deformability was modified by treating erythrocytes with diamide, diazene-dicarboxylic acid bis[N, N-dimethylamide], and erythrocyte aggregation was accelerated by adding dextran (with a molecular weight of 70,400) to the perfusion medium. The thickness of the cell-free layer increased with an increase of the inner diameter of flow channel, with lowering the hematocrit, and with increasing the flow velocity of erythrocytes, in both microvessels and glass capillaries. Furthermore, the thickness of cell-free layer decreased with decreasing erythrocyte deformability, while it increased with accelerating erythrocyte aggregation. However, the alteration of the cell-free layer in response to the changes of these hemorheological conditions was more sensitive in microvessels than in glass capillaries. The present study concludes that flow behavior of erythrocytes in microvessels is qualitatively similar to, but quantitatively different from those in glass capillaries, as far as evaluated by the change of the thickness of the marginal cell-free layer.

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